Philip Dunne: Calls for Tory candidate to be suspended over turban comment to rival
Labour candidate Kuldip Sahota says Philip Dunne's remark left him "shocked and deeply hurt".
Thursday 28 November 2019 17:59, UK
A Conservative candidate is facing calls to be suspended after saying his Labour rival was "talking through his turban".
Philip Dunne, who is standing for re-election in Ludlow in Shropshire, made the comment to Kuldip Sahota at a hustings event on Wednesday.
Mr Dunne, a former minister under David Cameron and Theresa May, later apologised in a statement.
Mr Sahota said the remark left him "shocked and deeply hurt", adding: "These are the kind of offensive comments I remember receiving in the 1970s.
"They have no place in modern Britain and they certainly have no place in our parliament.
"I hope the Conservatives will investigate this matter immediately."
Another Labour candidate, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, said Mr Dunne should be suspended "immediately" for the "disgusting, racist remark" - and warned "anything less than that will be condoning blatant racism."
Mr Dunne said in a statement: "I apologised to Kuldip Sahota for my comments last night.
"I apologise again unreservedly for the offence caused."
Sky News has contacted the Conservatives for a comment.
The full list of candidates standing in Ludlow is as follows:
- Philip Dunne, Conservative Party
- Kuldip Sahota, Labour Party
- Heather Kidd, Liberal Democrats
- Hilary Wendt, Green Party
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